| Dates: | 1891-1976, undated |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 4 boxes, plus 5 photos |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 |
| Collection number: | nnhc.rwc |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Donated by Mrs. Ethel Reeda in 1974 |
| Conditions governing use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions |
| Preferred citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Ravenswood Woman’s Club Records, [Box #, Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding aid author: | Processed as part of the Local History grant received from the Scholl Foundation in 1982 May. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Julie Lynch, 2021 |
Abstract
The collection consists of yearbooks which contain the club’s articles of incorporation, lists of officers and members, by-laws, news clippings, and program announcements and calendars and 5 photographs.
Biographical/Historical
The Ravenswood Woman’s Club was organized in 1889 under the name of the Woman’s Literary Club of Ravenswood. Its main objective was to promote intellectual growth through discussions and study groups. In 1894 the club became an incorporated body and the name was changed to the Ravenswood Woman’s Club.
Membership soon grew to over a hundred, as a result, the Club’s objective was broadened in scope to include educational and philanthropic work as well as social and civic activities. This can be seen through their close association with such community groups as the Ravenswood Improvement Association, Lake View High School, Ravenswood Hospital and the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association.
The membership began to dwindle during the mid-1950s. By 1974 the Ravenswood Woman’s Club disbanded. On April 15, 1974, the club held their last meeting in conjunction with the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association’s Annual Dinner.
Scope and Contents
The papers of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club reflect their activities, goals and achievements through the minute books from the Board of Managers and regular meetings, program announcements, calendars, news clippings and yearbooks, and photographs.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 2 series:
Series 1: Documents and publications, 1891-1976, undated
Series 2: Photographs. 1899, 1905, undated
Related materials
Englewood Woman’s Club Records
Ravenswood Lake View Community Collection
Wood Lawn Woman’s Club Records
Subject headings
- Lincoln Square (Chicago, Ill.) -- History -- Sources
- Ravenswood (Chicago, Ill.) -- History -- Sources
- Ravenswood Woman’s Club (Chicago, Ill.)
- Women’s Clubs -- Illinois -- Chicago
Collection inventory
Series 1: Documents and publications, 1891-1976, undated
Scope and Contents: The papers of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club reflect their activities, goals and achievements through the minute books from the Board of Managers and regular meetings, program announcements, calendars, news clippings and yearbooks.
Arrangement: Alphabetically by topic and then alphabetically within each topic.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Administrative Records - Calender of events | 1911-1912 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Administrative Records - Certificates of Incorporation and Amendments. 1894, 1952 | 1894, 1952 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Administrative Records - Certificate of membership of 50 years | 1966 April 11 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Administrative Records - Election ballots | 1939, 1943 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Administrative Records - Membership, notebooks | 1936-1952 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Administrative Records - Minute book, Board of Managers meetings | 1956 May 14 – 1967 April 17 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Administrative Records - Minute book, board meetings, and regular meetings | 1967 May 8 – 1974 April 11 and 1968 October 7 – 1974 June 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Administrative Records - Minute book, regular meetings | 1948 November 15 – 1953 April 28 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Administrative Records - Minute book, regular meetings | 1960 April 4 – 1968 April 15 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Administrative Records - Officers list | 1934 April 23 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Administrative Records - Programs | 1939, 1949, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Historical sketches | 1898, 1930-1931 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Historical sketches - Script of historical play written for the 50th anniversary of the club, “The Unfolding Years, 1889-1839,” by Mrs. Home Lackey | 1939 December 4 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Historical sketches - Closing meeting of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club, by Mrs. Ethel Reeda | 1974 April 15 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Historical sketches - “Presentation of the Year of Books of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club, 1891-1974, to the Ravenswood Lake View Historical Association,” by Mrs. Ethel Reeda | 1976 May 12 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | News clippings | 1921, 1931-1939 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | News clippings | 1938-1942, 1950-1954, 1974, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | News clippings - junior axillary | 1934-1935 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1891-1894 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1895-1899 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1899-1905 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1905-1911 |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1911-1917 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1917-1926 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1926-1930 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1930-1936 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1936-1944 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1944-1953 and supplement 1951-1952 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s and Junior Auxiliary Club | 1953-1954 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1954-1967 |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club | 1967-1974 |
Series 2: Photographs, 1899, 1905, undated
Scope and Contents: The photographs in this series document the activities of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club.
Arrangement: Arrangement is chronological, with undated material at the beginning.
| Photograph 1.1 | Ravenswood Woman’s Club, clubhouse, exterior, southeast corner of Wilson and Ashland avenues | undated |
| Photograph 1.2 | Ravenswood Woman’s Club, clubhouse, exterior, southeast corner of Wilson and Ashland avenues | undated |
| Photograph 1.4 | Ravenswood Woman’s Club, picnic on lawn of P.S. Peterson and Son’s Rose Hill Nursery | circa 1899 |
| Photograph 1.5 | Ravenswood Woman’s Club, July 4th celebration, group photo of members | 1905 July 4 |
| Photograph 1.3 | Ravenswood Woman’s Club, July 4th celebration, picnic on lawn of clubhouse, southeast corner of Wilson and Ashland avenues | 1905 July 4 |
